Page 105 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Chapter 50

Charlotte

"Dante!" Wesley rubbed his hand through his hair as he paced by the fireplace.

We had just come back to our home after a long ceremonial first shift run. Normally we would spend time together as a family after the first shift. Ember starting her heat just after threw that idea out the window.

I would have called you a liar if I had woken up this morning and someone told me my daughter was coming home. Now she was home, and I wanted my daughter all to myself, but fate had a funny way of being cruel. Ember was home; my first baby was home. Unfortunately, she wasn't my baby any longer.

Ember wasn't my little girl anymore. Time moved slowly over the years, and now that she was no longer a child, I could no longer enjoy her growing up. Ember was an adult and thankfully grew up so much stronger than I ever was at her age. Now Dante stands before his family and tells us he was the one responsible for his sister's disappearance.

"Hear me out and let me tell you!" he demanded. Wesley wasn't having any of it, he was pissed, and Remus was not going to tolerate it. Remus had been a terrible mess when Ember was gone, and just today, Remus's inner light finally sparked back to life.

"Let's hear it!" Wesley growled out. "You've kept enough secrets; you fucking lied to us for years! You knew something that could have helped us find her, and yet you said nothing!" I rushed to Wesley and tried to get him to sit down.

"Come on, sweetheart, let's hear Dante out. He did not do this on purpose, I'm sure. Please?" Wesley eyed me as he sat in his oversized rocking chair while pulling me in his lap. His nose went straight to my neck as he inhaled deeply. This action usually made the boys gag, but they knew they needed to steer clear when their father was angry.

I had anger built up in myself for Dante; he kept something regarding Ember for years and never spoke up. Unfortunately, I had to be the merciful one of the family full of testosterone. I would keep my feelings at bay until I knew what to do with them.

"Right." Dante stood up, pacing the floor. Blaze, Ember's little pet, had not left Dante's side. He sat perched on his shoulder and constantly stroked his cheek with his little head. I would dare say it was cute, but my worries of that tail catching my house of fire was something fierce.

Dante spilled his heart out as everyone in the room waited for him to finish. Ares and Mariah, who had joined us earlier, sat in the corner together. I was surprised Mariah had taken this opportunity to get to know the God of War, despite wanting to wait for her mate. Wesley had always preached to our pack about the importance of finding your mate and waiting. Mariah had been a strong advocate for that, and now she sits with Ares, taking glances at him when he isn't looking. She's not his, and he will leave when this all blows over, and I will need to be there to pull the pieces together. Being a Luna is exhausting.

They are not mates; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to keep their hands off each other, but there is an attraction there. While still listening to Dante about the southern border and the mysterious Fairy, I see Ares glance down at Mariah's hand. He took it in his and laced her fingers together and gave a brief kiss to her hand.

The God of War had a soft side, or was it just to get in her pants? Mariah blushed as Ares's forehead touched hers. A hot sticky mess this was going to be when he left her in the dust.

"He isn't your mate is he?" I mind-linked Mariah, causing her to look at me.

"No," she said quietly. "I just feel comfortable with him. He makes me laugh, and he treats me softly, unlike everyone else." I nodded my head.

"Just be careful. I know how you wish to find your mate." Mariah’s eyes softened but didn't let go of Ares's hand. I sighed as I turned my attention back to Dante. Wesley's fists were shaking as he continued to listen.

"You mean to tell me that you helped a Forest Fairy across the border, and you didn't tell me, the Alpha?" Wesley growled out.

"Wesley! He was only a child! He didn't know any better!" I pulled on his arm as he stood up.

"He did know better! He is an Alpha's son! Every pup has been told repeatedly no one is allowed to enter the territory unless I allow it!" Wesley stomped around the room, waving his hands about and muttering under his breath.

Dante stood silent while Blaze chattered in his ear. Who knows what that thing was saying, but it was keeping Dante calm. Walking over to Dante, I put my arms around him. "You were only eight and trying to do something good. Ember has already forgiven you, and so have I." I kissed his cheek, but the tears didn't stop. Dante's eyes wouldn't meet mine as Wesley growled on the other side of the room.

"Dante, you are to be the next Alpha." Dante and my head shot up; the whole room was perfectly still as Hunter and Steven had their mouths hang open. Nodding his head, Wesley continued, "That's right. Ember has passed on her right to be Alpha. Dante is next in line, but I don't know if that would be wise, especially in just a short six years." A growl grew in my chest towards Wesley as I left Dante's side.

"You dare punish our son because of an innocent mistake? He was a child. If it was anyone else's…."

"Then they would receive a punishment. Dante's mistake cost us 12 years of our daughter missing, and who knows what else could have happened during that time! That Fairy could have come back and stolen more children. Ember could have been sold, raped, and killed!" Wesley turned and pointed a heavy finger towards our son. "Dante, you will not inherit the pack at twenty-five. You will only gain it when you have found your mate and have finished Harvard Business school like we talked about. You are lucky you are not receiving harsher punishment being the Alpha's son!"

Wesley had been begging Dante to go to college just as he had to take over the several businesses that kept our large pack running. With Ember still missing and our hearts knowing she was still alive, Dante quickly dismissed the idea. Dante wouldn't rest until Ember was found, and now that she was, this would just revert to the plan Wesley had set Dante out for.

Wesley was hurt that his son didn't feel like he could confide in his own father. I felt the disappointment radiating through our bond. The doubt that he raised a son who felt like he would be cast away for his honesty pulled sadness straight to his heart.

Finding a mate could take years for Dante. Wesley didn't find me for the longest time; who knows how long it would take Dante or how quickly? My heart skipped at that notion. Maybe he could find his mate and take over the pack sooner rather than later. My heart went out to both of my men. Both hurting for different reasons, and now was a complete spectacle with Ares, Mariah, and now Cyrene that had watched all on the sidelines.

Cyrene was always the silent watcher, and yet I never felt judged by her. She was old, ancient, yet her youthful appearance denied any part of the wisdom she carried. Cyrene came forward and handed me the small plate of cookies I had made. If a coven Witch said it was time for a snack, then by the will of the goddess, we would have a snack.

Wesley slumped in the chair and took a cookie begrudgingly; he knew not to refuse my food. The one time he did, he didn't get his favorite steak for weeks. Dante took a seat without saying a word, just nodding and whispering he was sorry under his breath.

"I know this has to be difficult for both sides of this situation," I began. "Babe, I know you had wished Dante had come to you after this all transpired, but what's done is done. He was just a boy; you can't have such high expectations for just a young pup who had yet to even receive his Wolf. And Dante?" I walked to him and kneeled down to see the beautiful green eyes he inherited from his father.

---